Bible in Life

There's been a lot of emphasis on leadership development for pastors and church leaders over the 15-20 years. While some good has come of that, I wonder if we've misunderstood what we're leading and what church leadership is really about. And this has led us to get things backwards. And in practice, it's even led a lot of confusion about what the "church" is. 

This episode is a random reflection on this subject. I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading?

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

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Many Christians really want to know Jesus and experience the abundant life He offers. Because of that, they know they should (and often want to) read the Bible. But when they do, they discover the Bible is hard and often leaves them feeling confused. And they aren’t quite sure why and what to do about it. 

This episode explores that difficulty, helping you see that it's not all your fault and what you can do to make more sense of the Bible... and the the goal, of course, is that you can follow Jesus in your everyday life. 

Because when you do that, you will experience the abundant life He offers … because Jesus and the Bible really do have the best wisdom for life - even if you have to work for it a bit!

FREE TOOL: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible

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Support this ministry - this podcast and ministry is made possible by many people's generosity 

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

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Here are some ways to connect with me:

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The book of Habakkuk ends with one of the most beautiful descriptions of faith and faithfulness in the entire Bible. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says:

Though the fig tree does not bud

    and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

    and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

    and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

    he enables me to tread on the heights.

In this episode, we explore this beautiful text in the context of all of ch. 3 (and all of Habakkuk) learning what it takes to trust God continuously ... even when His actions don't make sense to us. 

[THIS WEEK] - Pastors and Church Leaders - Free Workshop on 5 Shifts for Becoming a Disciple Making Church:

discipleshipworkshop.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Here are some ways to connect with me:

▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram

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As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Have you ever felt like whatever God was up to, it didn't make sense? Where you wanted to say, "God, I don't understand?!" 

That's Habakkuk's experience. God responds to his complaint and assures Habakkuk that He is indeed doing something about all the injustice among Israel. The problem is, God's cure is worse than the disease, and Habakkuk doesn't get it. So he complains to God again! 

And God responds with one of the most important verses about faith ... what God tells Habakkuk is quoted in Romans and Galatians as the baseline for what it means to be a Christian: "The righteous shall live by faith."

Pastors and Church Leaders - Free Workshop on 5 Shifts for Becoming a Disciple Making Church:

discipleshipworkshop.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Here are some ways to connect with me:

▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram

▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Habakkuk records a dialogue between God and the prophet Habakkuk that begins with Habakkuk complaining to God about the state of affairs among the Jews and God's silence ... He's not doing anything about the injustice being practiced by His own people. 

And Habakkuk can't figure out why God isn't doing anything. So He expresses his thoughts to God. 

If you've every felt like life wasn't fair or been frustrated by God's absence or felt like God needed to act, Habakkuk is for you!

Habakkuk shows us that faith wrestles with God!

Pastors and Church Leaders - Free Workshop on 5 Shifts for Becoming a Disciple Making Church:

discipleshipworkshop.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Here are some ways to connect with me:

▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram

▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Do you want a deeper relationship with God this year? I know I do. In this episode I explore 4 things I'm going to focus on to deepen my walk with God and I believe they can be helpful for you this year as well. 

Now here's the thing: any strong relationship takes intentional effort, and the same is true in our relationship with God. So after you listen to this podcast, I'd encourage you to carve our space to reflect and plan what you will do to deepen your walk with God in 2021. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading?

Free Resource: I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Here are some ways to connect with me:

▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram

▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

When we arrive at Luke 2 and the Christmas story, the Jews have been waiting a long long time.

2000 years since Abraham

600 years since sent to exile and being under foreign rulers 

300 yrs of greek culture

60 yrs of roman occupation

And heaven was silent… there were glimmers of hope - like the Maccabean revolt - only to be dashed against the rocks of reality.

It seemed they had been enduring a dark and long night from which they couldn’t escape and God wasn’t acting on their behalf.

And yet there were those passages in the poems and prophets of old … 

Passages that made the faithful wait and wonder, "How long, O Lord?"

Bible verses used in this episode: 

Luke 2:21-35

21 And when eight days were completed so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”

25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,

According to Your word;

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:

32 A light for revelation for the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 

34 And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Romans 8:18-25

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Want to get more out of your Bible reading?

Free Resource: I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Here are some ways to connect with me:

▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram

▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

One of the most obvious things about God and His sovereignty is this: He doesn’t work the way we expect.  And it’s easy to be disappointed.  It’s easy to wonder where God is at and what he’s up to.  In this episode, we pick up where we left off: The Jews have been carried off to Babylon and into exile Their nation destroyed Jerusalem and the temple a heap of rubble. And we trace the story between Malachi (the end of the Old Testament) and Matthew (the beginning of the New Testament). We learn through this story that waiting on God requires tenacious clinging to His promises even when God is  silent and seems to be taking forever doing what He said He would do. Bible verses used in the episode: Lamentations 1 How deserted lies the city,     once so full of people! How like a widow is she,     who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces     has now become a slave. 2 Bitterly she weeps at night,     tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers     there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her;     they have become her enemies. 3 After affliction and harsh labor,     Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations;     she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her     in the midst of her distress.   Lamentations 2 How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion     with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel     from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool     in the day of his anger. 2 Without pity the Lord has swallowed up     all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down     the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes     down to the ground in dishonor. Jeremiah 29 10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”   Lamentations 3 I remember my affliction and my wandering,     the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them,     and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind     and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great steadfast love we are not consumed,     for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;     therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,     to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly     for the salvation of the Lord   Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Here are some ways to connect with me: ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram   ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net   As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Waiting. I’m not good at it. Are you?

The weeks leading to Christmas is traditionally called Advent. 

Advent is a season of waiting. The heart of that waiting is set to music in the Christmas classic: 

Come, Thou long expected Jesus 

Born to set Thy people free; 

From our fears and sins release us, 

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Waiting is part of walking by faith. Here's two things we learn as we ponder the story of Abraham and Israel:

1. God takes His time. He sovereignly goes at a long, slow pace. 

2. Waiting on God includes moments of "what now?!"

In this episode we trace the story of God's promise to Abraham through it's initial fulfillment to its seeming failure when Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed and God's people are carried away into exile. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading?

Free Resource: I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Here are some ways to connect with me:

▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram

▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

The world says "I've gotta be true to myself" or "That's just who I am" or "it's right for me." 

The Bible likewise calls us to live who we are, but it means something totally different ... it's talking about our new identity that God has given us in Christ and that we need to learn to live according to who God has made us. 

Nowhere is this theme presented any more clearly than in Colossians 3.

This episode is from The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament. To listen to more visit:

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Want to get more out of your Bible reading?

Free Resource: The Bible is meant to be a source of life. The problem? So few read it and when they do, they struggle to get much out of it. I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

Here are some ways to connect with me:

▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram

▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net